Other smartwatches to consider
The number of smartwatches on the market is staggering. Here are some other options that I like.
TAG Heuer Connected Caliber E5 for $1,900: I had the chance to try out TAG Heuer’s new luxury smartwatch for a few days, and it’s awesome. The Caliber E5 is like nothing else, with premium materials like sapphire crystal and ceramic bezels; it has a nice weight. TAG has moved from Google’s Wear OS to its own proprietary operating system (TAG Heuer OS), so you won’t be able to access the usual apps on this smartwatch. However, it works with Android or iPhone, routes your notifications, and can track basic fitness activities. A software update will also bring sleep tracking. We’ll put it to the test soon, but if you have other TAG or luxury watches in your collection, you might not mind having one that can also be a little more functional.
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Apple Watch Series 10 for $329: Thanks to watchOS 26, the 2024 10 series (8/10, WIRED recommends) has many of the same features as the new 11 series, like high blood pressure notifications and sleep score. It has a thinner, lighter design with a larger screen than previous models, and it even regained blood oxygen detection via a software update in August 2025. It’s a shame this one still has 18 hours of battery life. Avoid paying near MSRP for this watch. If you can find it for under $300, grab it.
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Google Pixel Watch 3 for $230: The Pixel Watch 3 (8/10, WIRED recommends) is getting deep discounts now that the Pixel Watch 4 is here. It’s a great smartwatch, with the caveat that it’s not repairable. (The newer model addresses this issue.) It has loss of pulse detection, cleared by the FDA for use in the United States, which can be critical to saving a person’s life. Google has also focused its fitness updates on running, allowing users to create personalized runs and follow AI-based running recommendations while getting insights into cardio load (how hard your heart is working and whether that’s appropriate for your body). I strongly recommend that you opt for the 45mm model, which doesn’t even give the impression that big. It simply offers better battery life: around 24 hours with the always-on display or a little more if you have it turned off.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $799: The Watch Ultra 2 is still worth considering, but don’t pay anywhere near MSRP; otherwise, you might as well buy the new Watch Ultra 3. It can last for several days of use and has many of the same great features as the last model, including better mics to pick up your voice, an 86-decibel siren to alert your location to anyone nearby, and accurate GPS to better track your hikes (and help you find your way back with the Backtrack feature). The screen can display topographic maps, but you can’t view offline maps without iPhone.
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2025 for $650: The 47mm Galaxy Watch Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review) is the company’s competitor to Apple Watch Ultra and Garmin, and is a solid first entry into the world of expensive, feature-rich, and powerful smartwatches designed for professional athletes. This is technically the 2025 model, identical to the 2024 version but comes with 64GB of storage and in a new blue color. It lasts a little over two days on a charge as it’s a big watch at 47mm and can hold a sturdy battery. There’s a titanium case and a sapphire crystal dial, and it’s rated 10 ATM and IP68, so you can submerge it up to 100 meters underwater. The heart rate tracker is remarkably consistent with the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the dual-band GPS provides precise mapping. The software isn’t as intuitive and a few features are lacking compared to other capable smartwatches, but it’s a good start if you’re in the world of Android. If you don’t like the blue or the extra storage, you can buy the 2024 model for hundreds less.
Samsung Galaxy Watch7 44mm for $190: Samsung’s 2024 Galaxy Watch7 is a bit simple. This model launched Samsung’s Energy Score and added updated sleep tracking capabilities. You also get FDA-approved sleep apnea detection, although it’s not a feature you’ll turn on all the time: Tracking takes two nights, and you’ll then receive a note indicating whether or not you have symptoms. This feature, along with EKG and irregular heartbeat notifications, is only available when paired with a Samsung phone. Otherwise, this watch works well with any other Android. You can choose from two sizes, plus Bluetooth only or LTE. I tested both sizes and found the battery life frustrating compared to its predecessors. With the always-on display, I struggled to get to 24 hours with two activities tracked and overnight sleep tracking. Once it was turned off, things went a little better, but I was still barely able to get through a full day. You will have to manage the battery and use power saving modes. If you don’t care about the latest releases, you can save a lot of money with the Watch7.
Casio G-Shock Master of G Rangeman GPR-H1000 for $500: It is not for each event, but the Master of G-Land Rangeman (GPRH1000RY1A) looks great on my wrist, and I like that I only need to charge it about once a week. It is above all a G-Shock. It has a durable, thick casing and a comfortable strap. It’s a big watch. It also has six sensors and built-in GPS. Connect the watch to your smartphone via the Casio app and you can receive simple notification alerts, heart rate tracking, activity tracking, and sleep tracking. Not to mention other features like blood oxygen monitoring, compass, world time, altimeter, and barometer. I compared the results to an Apple Watch Series 10, and for the most part, basic metrics like heart rate, step tracking, and sleep are similar. Some data hasn’t appeared in the Casio app for a few days and many of these functions are slow to load on the watch. It wouldn’t be my first choice if I wanted a fitness-focused wearable — get a Garmin instead — but I like being able to view and track some of these metrics whenever I want. Most importantly, I love having a G-Shock around my wrist.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE for $240: The Galaxy Watch FE is a budget Wear OS smartwatch. The 40mm Galaxy Watch FE has a smaller screen that’s not as bright and sports a slower processor and smaller battery than the Watch7 series. The health sensors are almost the same and I got accurate results with heart rate and sleep tracking. The battery lasts about a day, or a little less.
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OnePlus Watch 2 for $227: This is last year’s OnePlus smartwatch, but it’s still available. This seems like better value now that the price of the OnePlus 3 has increased. The 46mm OnePlus Watch 2 (7/10, WIRED recommends) runs Wear OS and lasts about three days on a single charge, a bit longer if you enable some power-saving settings. Health capabilities are lacking – there’s no fall detection or EKG – but there is sleep tracking, and it’s pretty accurate. Some features, such as heart rate tracking, distance traveled, and steps, have mixed accuracy in my testing, meaning you shouldn’t buy this smartwatch if you primarily use it for these functions. Also consider the OnePlus Watch 2R, which you can buy for less money. The differences mainly concern build quality. The screen isn’t as glossy, it has an aluminum casing instead of stainless steel, and there’s no sapphire glass protecting the screen, so it’s less durable. However, this makes it lighter and more comfortable to wear.
Withings ScanWatch 2 for $370: The ScanWatch 2 (7/10, WIRED recommends) can pass for an analog watch. Its health tracking feature set is comprehensive: you get heart rate monitoring, EKG, blood oxygen measurements, and sleep tracking. Battery life is also exceptional, lasting up to 30 days with light use. (Heavier use will take about 22 days before requiring a charge.) The main problem is this watch’s small screen, which is too small to read some notifications. GPS is also connected, which means your phone must be connected and nearby. There is an optional Health+ subscription, but we don’t recommend it because it doesn’t offer much utility. The ScanWatch 2 comes in a 42mm or 38mm case and doesn’t have the rich features and apps you’ll find on an Apple Watch, but if you want to monitor your health data and don’t want your watch to look too technical, this will do the trick.
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